Jana Sena releases its first list of candidates

The Jana Sena Party (JSP), contesting elections for the first time in the bifurcated Andhra Pradesh, claims to bring a change in the political change in the state with an agenda of “new-age politics”. The party president, K. Pawan Kalyan, a popular actor in Tollywood, had launched the party amid fanfare, five years ago, saying that the motto of his party was to fight for the rights of the common man.

The party released the first list of candidates for the general elections to be held on April 11. The names of candidates for 17 Assembly segments and 5 Parliamentary constituencies were declared in the list.

The party has been trying to project itself as a different political entity that would fight for accountability of the elected representatives. However, many see it as one formed to split the votes that could be garnered by the Telugu Desam Party.

Though it supported the TDP in 2014, Jana Sena has distanced itself from the party later criticising the yellow brigade for being mired in corruption. It also faulted the Chandrababu-led government of failing to secure the Special Category Status despite having an alliance with the BJP that led the NDA government at the Centre.

According to sources, the Jana Sena is mulling to contest in selected places where it has stronghold, instead of all the 175 constituencies in the state. It is also likely to contest from a few places in Telangana too. Recently, Pawan Kalyan announced that the party would extend Rs 8,000 financial aid per acre to every farmer family in the state, if voted to power. The announcement was made at a party programme held marking the International Women’s Day this year.